Department for Transport

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles were identified and impounded solely on the basis of non-payment of vehicle excise duty as part of the pilot enforcement action using automatic number plate recognition of illegal foreign-registered vehicles in the UK.

Andrew Jones: The pilot took place between 3 November 2014 and 8 February 2015. It was a joint initiative between the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Central Motorway Police Group and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. The police forces involved were West Midlands, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Northamptonshire, Thames Valley and Hampshire.A total of 703 foreign registered vehicles were identified and impounded for non-payment of vehicle excise duty as part of the pilot.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Owner Occupation: Older People

James Cartlidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if his Department will undertake an analysis of the benefits of owner-occupied retirement housing to residents of that housing; and if his Department will bring forward proposals to increase delivery of that housing.

Brandon Lewis: The Government believes that meeting the housing needs of our older population is key to helping people to live well and remain healthier longer. That is why we are providing £400 million over the Spending Review period to deliver 8,000 affordable specialist homes for the vulnerable, elderly or those with disabilities. A commitment to funding from the Department of Health could deliver up to a further 7,500 units over the next five years.The National Planning Policy Framework directs local authorities to plan for a mix of housing based on current and future demographic trends, and the needs of different groups in the area, including older people and disabled people. In March 2015 we strengthened planning guidance to encourage local authorities to recognise the importance for planning for older people’s housing.

Homelessness: Children

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of children who will be homeless between 1 December 2015 and 1 January 2016.

Mr Marcus Jones: We have maintained homelessness prevention funding for local authorities, through the provisional local government finance settlement totalling £315 million by 2019/20.We have increased central government funding for homelessness programmes to £139 million over the Spending Review period.There were 103,430 children and expected children in temporary accommodation arranged by local authorities in England as at 30 September 2015. The Department does not produce forecasts of homelessness.

Social Rented Housing: Construction

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many affordable rent-to-buy houses are being constructed.

Brandon Lewis: Through the Autumn Statement 2015, the Government has committed to investing £8 billion to deliver over 400,000 affordable housing starts by 2020/21. This includes £1.7 billion to deliver around 100,000 homes for affordable or intermediate rent, of which 10,000 are to be affordable rent to buy homes that enable tenants to have the opportunity to save for a deposit while renting.Bids into the Rent to Buy 2015-2017 programme are currently being considered. The prospectus for the new Affordable Homes Programme 2016-21 will be launched shortly.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Saudi Arabia: Capital Punishment

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the Saudi Arabian government on the recent execution of 47 people in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: On Saturday 2 January, Saudi Arabia executed 47 people, 43 of whom were Sunni, primarily convicted for terrorist offences related to the 2000-03 Al Qaeda campaign in the Kingdom. The UK opposes the death penalty around the world because we believe it undermines human dignity and there is no evidence that it works as a deterrent. We engage regularly with the Saudis on the full range of issues, including human rights. Most recently, both myself and our Ambassador have raised our concerns with the Saudi Arabian authorities about these mass executions and the deterioration in Saudi Arabia’s relationship with Iran.

Former Ministers: Visits Abroad

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on how many occasions former Ministers stayed overnight at official residences overseas for (a) one night, (b) two nights and (c) more than two nights since 8 May 2015.

Mr David Lidington: This information is not held centrally and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Democracy

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much funding his Department has allocated to promoting democracy abroad in each year to 2020; and what criteria are used for the allocation of such funding.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department plans to spend promoting democracy abroad in 2016; which organisations have received such funding since 7 May 2015; and how much such funding each of those organisations have received.

Mr David Lidington: This Government is firmly committed to supporting democratic values and the rule of law. Since the start of this Parliament, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has supported many projects and organisations promoting democracy and will continue to do so up to 2020. In addition to the FCO’s longstanding sponsorship of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, to which we allocated £3.5m this financial year, in September 2015 the FCO launched a new fund called the Magna Carta Partnerships, to assist democracies in crisis or transition. This fund is worth £100,000 in this financial year. The FCO also continues to support democracy work overseas through its Human Rights and Democracy Programme (HRDP), an annual fund which has a budget of £5.5 million in this financial year. In addition to these dedicated funds, the FCO uses a range of other bilateral and programme funds across its global network to promote democratic values, and works to strengthen democratic values through our relationship with institutions such as the European Union, the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.The total cost of these various democracy strengthening activities, and lists of beneficiaries, is not held centrally and could only be collected at disproportionate cost in the time available.

Iran: Saudi Arabia

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Saudi Arabian government on future relationships with Iran following recent developments in relations between those countries.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are deeply concerned about the escalation of tensions in the region. We have made representations at the highest levels and have urged all parties in the region to urgently show restraint and responsibility, and to resolve tensions.

Iran: Baha'i Faith

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of protection of the civil and economic rights of the Bahá'í community in Iran; and what representations have been made to him on the violation of that community's human rights in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The treatment of Baha’is remains of serious concern. We have repeatedly expressed our concern at the harassment faced by Baha’is in Iran, including the sentencing of seven Baha'i leaders to 20 years in prison. We continue to urge the Iranian Government to ensure that all Iranian citizens are able to practise their faith freely, as required by international conventions. I met with an Interfaith Delegation on freedom of religion or belief in Iran on 1 December, during which representations were made to him on the plight of the Baha'i community in Iran.

Afghanistan: Females

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will discuss with the Afghan government the importance of the recognition of women's rights during the negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We continue to emphasise to the Afghan Government that any Afghan-led political settlement involving the Taliban must protect the progress made in Afghanistan and respect Afghanistan’s constitutional framework, including protection for women and minorities.A durable political settlement requires recognition from the Taliban that Afghanistan has changed in the last decade. The Afghan people will not accept the reversal of this progress, particularly on women’s rights. Women will have an important role to play in this process.

Attorney General

Human Trafficking: Prosecutions

Mark Field: To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2015 to Question 19543, how many of those prosecutions for human trafficking resulted in a conviction.

Robert Buckland: During 2014-2015 the CPS prosecuted 187 defendants for offences connected with human trafficking. 130 of these defendants were convicted at a conviction rate of 69.5%.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Overseas Trade: Canada

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the likely value of increased trade between the UK and Canada as a result of the EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and what steps he plans to take to encourage trade in (a) Alberta, (b) British Columbia and (c) the rest of Canada.

Anna Soubry: I assume my hon. Friend means the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which is the trade deal between the EU and Canada and this is the subject on which I will be answering.Analysis suggests that, as a result of CETA, UK exports to Canada will increase by 29% and Canadian exports to the UK will increase by 15%. In the long run, the benefit to the UK economy will be of the order of £1.3 billion per annum.UK Trade and Investment will promote to British businesses all the new opportunities arising from CETA through a range of marketing activities across the UK and through the network of UK Posts in Canada. An accompanying guide will translate the agreement into an easily accessible document to help businesses identify potential benefits, including the tariff liberalisation on manufactured goods and food and drink products; greater access to government procurement contracts in all provinces at all levels of the Canadian government, including British Columbia and Alberta; and longer patent protection provided for pharmaceutical companies to protect R&D investment.

Manufacturing Industries: Sustainable Development

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to encourage manufacturers to introduce sustainable manufacturing processes.

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to encourage manufacturers to introduce resource and energy efficiency measures.

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will meet members of the Manufacturing Commission to discuss its report, entitled Industrial Evolution, published in October 2015.

Anna Soubry: The Government’s top priority is to continue creating a highly competitive business environment that makes the UK an attractive location for new manufacturing investment in sustainable processes. We are protecting spending on innovation and the cutting-edge smart manufacturing technologies that will encourage digital, virtual, resource-efficient factories in the future. The High Value Manufacturing Catapult has skills, expertise and equipment available to help partner companies improve the efficiency and sustainability of their processes. As part of Autumn Statement 2015, my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that funding to the nine existing Catapults would increase in real terms over the Spending Review period ensuring the UK remains a world leader in high-value manufacturing.In addition, we are taking into account UK business opportunities during negotiations on the EU Circular Economy proposals which include aims to improve business sustainability, resource and energy efficiency.At the Summer Budget 2015, the Chancellor announced a review of the business energy efficiency tax landscape and Government launched a consultation in September. The consultation set out proposals for delivering a simpler and more stable environment for business that will reduce administrative costs and improve incentives to invest in energy efficiency. This will help increase the productivity of UK businesses, save carbon emissions and ensure secure energy supplies. The Government is currently considering all consultation responses and is likely to publish its formal response at Budget 2016.I would be delighted to receive further representations from the Manufacturing Commission on their recent Industrial Evolution report.

Department for International Development

Syria: Refugees

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2015 to Question 19712, how much such funding her Department provided to (a) Jordan, (b) Iraq and (c) Israel in those years.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK has been at the forefront of the response to the crisis in Syria and the region. We have pledged over £1.12 billion to date, our largest ever response to a single humanitarian crisis. In 2015/16 DFID funding is providing support to 18 humanitarian partners in Syria and 18 partners in neighbouring countries. These include UN agencies, international organisations, NGOs and civil society organisations in Syria and in neighbouring countries.The table below provides a breakdown of DFID funding spent through partners on projects for Syrian refugees and host communities in Jordan, Iraq and Israel since 2011/2012.DFID Funding for Humanitarian/Development Activities in Jordan, Iraq and Israel in response to the Syria refugee crisis (excluding funding to the Conflict Security and Stabilisation Fund) Financial YearJordanIraqIsrael 2011/2012£0£0£02012/2013£17,650,797£2,302,769£02013/2014£68,882,422£11,223,595£02014/2015£47,572,254£5,563,464£0While the UK is playing its part, we are concerned that UN appeals for the Syria crisis remain severely underfunded. That is why the Prime Minister announced on 16 November that the UK, Kuwait, Norway, Germany and the UN will co-host an international conference on the Syria crisis in London in early February. The Conference will aim to raise significant new funding to meet the needs of all those affected by crisis within Syria and to support neighbouring countries, who have shown enormous generosity in hosting refugees, to cope with the impact of the crisis.DFID does not provide funding for projects in Israel, which is a high-income country, and therefore ineligible for Overseas Development Assistance. However, DFID does have a bilateral programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including east Jerusalem.

World Health Organisation

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to attend the World Health Organisation meeting in March 2016; and what her policy is on proposals to be discussed at that meeting on creating a system of health research which prioritises need and efficiency over profit.

Mr Nick Hurd: Arrangements for the meeting at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in March 2016 are at an early stage. DFID officials will be in discussion with WHO senior managers about UK representation at the meeting.The UK Government supports systems that separate the market incentives to produce a drug or vaccine from the Research & Development process, that prioritise public health need over profit and that work in partnership with a wide range of different organisations, covering the public, private and philanthropic sectors. The proposals to be discussed at the meeting at the WHO in March are one element of a wider system. The UK is the second largest government supporter of the development of new products through product development partnerships, which prioritise need over profit.

Barbados: Overseas Aid

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make it her policy to provide aid to Barbados; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Desmond Swayne: Barbados does not qualify for Official Development Assistance (ODA) by the Department for International Development under internationally agreed ODA criteria.

Department for Education

English Baccalaureate

Peter Heaton-Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to consult the teaching profession before implementation of the English Baccalaureate.

Nick Gibb: Holding answer received on 05 January 2016



On 3 November 2015 the Secretary of State for Education launched a public consultation seeking views on the government’s proposals for the implementation of the English Baccalaureate.[1] The consultation will run until 29 January 2016.[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/implementing-the-english-baccalaureate

Department for Education: Information Officers

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many press and public relations staff are employed by (a) her Department, (b) Ofqual, (c) Ofsted, (d) the National College for Teaching and Leadership, (e) the Office of the Children's Commissioner and (f) the Equalities Office; how many of those employees earn more than (i) £50,000 and (ii) £100,000; and what the total expenditure was on press and public relations by each of those organisations in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education communications group, which covers press and public relations work, employs 34.1 permanent members of staff. This includes 2.5 staff members for the Government Equalities Office. Nine of these staff members earn more than £50,000 and none more than £100,000.With regard to Ofsted, these matters are for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw. I have asked him to write to you and a copy of his reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.With regard to Ofqual, these matters are for its Chief Regulator, Glenys Stacey. I have asked her to write to you and a copy of her reply will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Pupils: Holidays

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much parents and guardians have been fined for taking their children on term-time holidays in the academic year 2013-14.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education does not hold information on the reason for a penalty notice (fine) being issued to a parent or guardian.The department collects and publishes local authority level annual data on the number of penalty notices (fines) issued to parents in England, for offences relating to Section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996. The most recent data published by the department is for the academic year 2012/13.

Teachers: Training

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Higher Education Funding Council for England plans to permit universities and higher education providers to re-offer a place to applicants for PGCE courses in 2016-17 if applicants with offers decide to withdraw their application or choose an alternative offer.

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many PGCE places were allocated to universities and higher education providers for entry in 2015-16; and what the planned allocation of such places is for entry in 2016-17.

Nick Gibb: The National College for Teaching and Leadership is responsible for the management of initial teacher training places and national teacher recruitment.Data on allocations to universities and higher education providers for 2015/16 can be found online in table A2b: www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-itt-recruitment-controlsWe have introduced a new system for postgraduate ITT recruitment for the 2016/17 academic year. Full information has been published on GOV.UK: www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-itt-recruitment-controls

Pupil Exclusions: West Yorkshire

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils were expelled from schools for violent conduct in West Yorkshire in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education holds exclusion breakdowns at regional and local authority level; the department does not hold exclusion breakdowns for West Yorkshire.The most recently published information can be found online at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-exclusions

Gujarati: Education

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support the recruitment of examiners for Gujarati GCSE and A level examinations; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) and I have asked its Chief Regulator, Glenys Stacey, to write to you. A copy of the letter will be placed in the House Library.

GCSE

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of pupils achieved five A* to C GCSEs in (a) community schools and (b) state-funded academy converter mainstream and foundation schools in (i) 2013 and (ii) 2015.

Nick Gibb: The figures for pupils achieving five or more A* to C GCSE grades in converter academies are published in the following GCSE and equivalent statistical first releases for the years 2012/13[1] and 2014/15[2]. The lower level breakdown of local authority maintained schools are not published.[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2012-to-2013-revised (Table 3a)[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/provisional-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2014-to-2015 (Table 3a)

Ministry of Justice

National Tactical Response Group

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what budget his Department has allocated to the National Tactical Response Group for each of the last five years.

Andrew Selous: The budget allocation for National Tactical Response Group (NTRG) is set out in the table below.These figures include pay and non-pay items (including training materials, operational incident consumables and vehicle costs). It is not possible to retrieve the 2010 data information within the time available. The resource allocation for 2016-17 is yet to be confirmed.NTRG Budget2011-121.6m2012-131.6m2013-141.7m2014-151.8m2015-161.8m

Prisoners: Gender Recognition

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that its review of the care and management of trans prisoners consults trans stakeholders; and which trans stakeholders his Department plans to consult during that review.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for what reasons his Department has not included a trans woman as an advisor to its review on trans prisoners.

Caroline Dinenage: The terms of reference for the review of the care and management of transgender offenders were published on 8 December. The review is in its early stages. We are in the process of identifying a wide range of stakeholders with whom to engage and are keen to hear from all those with an interest. A copy of the terms of reference are available at:(https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/review-into-the-care-and-management-of-transgender-offenders).

National Tactical Response Group

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was allocated to the National Tactical Response Group in (a) 2010, (b) 2014 and (c) 2015; and what he expects that budget to be in 2016.

Andrew Selous: The budget allocation for National Tactical Response Group (NTRG) is set out in the table below.These figures include pay and non-pay items (including training materials, operational incident consumables and vehicle costs). It is not possible to retrieve the 2010 data information within the time available. The resource allocation for 2016-17 is yet to be confirmed.NTRG Budget2011-121.6m2012-131.6m2013-141.7m2014-151.8m2015-161.8m

Prisons: Disciplinary Proceedings

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times the Prison Service Gold Command opened in each month since May 2010; and what the nature was of each incident that caused it to be opened.

Andrew Selous: The safety of staff and prisoners is a priority. Gold Command is opened in order to deal with incidents as quickly and safely as possible. Not all incidents turn out to be serious, but all incidents are regarded as potentially serious at the point of Gold being opened up.Prisons are dealing with an increasingly violent population, and the effects of novel psychoactive substances. We take a zero tolerance approach to drugs in prisons, and have recently introduced tough new laws which will see those who smuggle packages over prison walls, including drugs, face up to two years in prison. There are already a range of robust measures in place to detect drugs, including the use of sniffer dogs, searches of cells, and mandatory drugs tests.Table 1: Gold Command Openings by Month and Incident Type May 2010 – December 2015MonthTotalHostageConcerted IndisciplineIncident at HeightIndustrial ActionEscapeBarricadeFireCivil UnrestMay-1022Jun-1011Jul-10312Aug-1011Sep-1022Oct-104211Nov-108251Dec-10312Jan-1144Feb-114211Mar-1111Apr-114211May-1122Jun-110Jul-110Aug-113111MonthTotalHostageConcerted IndisciplineIncident at HeightIndustrial ActionEscapeBarricadeFireCivil UnrestSep-1111Oct-11211Nov-1174111Dec-1122Jan-1255Feb-12321Mar-1252111Apr-1222May-12651Jun-123111Jul-12642Aug-12321Sep-12312Oct-1222Nov-12642Dec-1222Jan-13211Feb-1311Mar-1374111Apr-136411May-1363111Jun-1313931Jul-1344Aug-13431Sep-1312714Oct-134211Nov-136321Dec-13651Jan-141082Feb-14431Mar-14532Apr-14651May-140Jun-14871Jul-1412711111Aug-14532Sep-145311Oct-14541Nov-141064Dec-148431Jan-15541Feb-1522MonthTotalHostageConcerted IndisciplineIncident at HeightIndustrial ActionEscapeBarricadeFireCivil UnrestMar-1513922Apr-155311May-15642Jun-1595211Jul-1514725Aug-15312Sep-159621Oct-156321Nov-15523Dec-155212

Ministry of Defence

Syria: Military Intervention

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what process his Department uses to estimate the number of civilians killed by the UK's bombing programme in Syria since 3 December 2015.

Penny Mordaunt: Every strike is subjected to careful post-mission scrutiny to confirm the aircrew's assessment.

Armed Forces: Education

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Part 1 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, what assessment he has made of whether all armed forces personnel aged 16 and 17 are able to study for 280 guided learning hours per year towards accredited qualifications.

Mark Lancaster: The Armed Forces meet the requirement of Raising the Participation Age, as defined in the Education and Skills Act 2008.In the Naval Service, all new recruits, whether Royal Navy or Royal Marines and irrespective of age, undertake a Level 2 accredited apprenticeship. This is as part of Phase 2 training for the Royal Navy and Phase 1 training for the Royal Marines.The Army provides full-time training and education to all recruits aged 16 and 17, largely through the Junior Entry courses at Army Foundation College, Harrogate.All non-commissioned Royal Air Force recruits, regardless of their age, are enrolled onto a Level 2, Level 3 or Level 4 accredited apprenticeship according to their Trade.

Warships

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 4.47 of the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, what the timetable is for procurement of the three new logistic ships.

Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow South West (Chris Stephens) on 1 December 2015 to Question 17447.



17447 - Hansard extract on Royal Fleet Auxiliary
(Word Document, 14.29 KB)

Defence Infrastructure Organisation

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what expenditure his Department was on (a) temporary agency staff, (b) consultants, (c) non-payroll staff, (d) administration and (e) marketing and advertising on making the Defence Infrastructure Organisation government-owned in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13, (iii) 2013-14 and (iv) 2014-15.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many bids his Department received under its proposal to make the Defence Infrastructure Organisation government-owned contractor-operated.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, from which organisations his Department received bids under its proposal to make the Defence Infrastructure Organisation government-owned contractor-operated.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of making the Defence Infrastructure Organisation government-owned contractor-operated.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what risk assessment his Department made of making the Defence Infrastructure Organisation government-owned contractor-operated.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff in his Department worked on proposals to make the Defence Infrastructure Organisation government-owned contractor-operated in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15.

Mark Lancaster: The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has been led by a Strategic Business Partner (SBP) since September 2014. The SBP contract allowed for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to instruct the incorporation of DIO as a Government-owned company (GovCo), subject to a value for money review.I announced the conclusions of the review in my written statement of 10 December 2015 (Official Report, columns 55-56WS). The GovCo model would have been led by the SBP but 100% owned by the Secretary of State for Defence. A GovCo is distinct from a Government-owned contractor-operated organisation (GOCO) which has a different legal construct. The MOD has never proposed for the DIO to become a GOCO.  



Defence Infrastructure Organisation
(Word Document, 18.14 KB)

Armed Forces: Training

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many senior officers have attended at least one week of training at force development training centres.

Mark Lancaster: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ministry of Defence: Information Officers

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many press and public relations staff are employed by (a) his Department, (b) the Defence Electronics and Components Agency, (c) the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, (d) the UK Hydrographic Office, (e) the National Army Museum, (f) the National Museum of the Royal Navy, (g) the Royal Air Force Museum, (h) the Single Source Regulations Office and (i) the Oil and Pipelines Agency; how many of these employees earn more than (i) £50,000 and (ii) £100,000; and what the total expenditure was on press and public relations by each of those organisations in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Mark Lancaster: The following table outlines the number of civilian and military press and public relations staff posts in Defence (including vacant posts) and press and public relations expenditure in the financial year 2014-15. This expenditure includes £30 million for Armed Forces advertising and marketing - the vast majority of which is advertising and marketing in direct support of Armed Forces recruitment campaigns. It also includes £12 million for staff costs.Annual salaries are dependent upon grade/rank. Of those in press and public relations staff posts, there are:No civil servants or military personnel with salaries of more than £100,000.10 civil servants with salaries of more than £50,000.24 military personnel with salaries of more than £50,000. Department/AgencyPress and Public Relations Staff PostsSalary £50,000 and aboveSalary £100,000 and abovePress and Public Relations Expenditure Financial Year (FY)2014-15 (£000)[1]Ministry of Defence[2]499 Civilian 3 Military05,772Armed Forces (Royal Navy, Army, RAF and Joint Forces Command)1220 Civilian 21 Military041,437 (Including advertising and marketing for Armed Forces recruitment campaigns)Defence Electronics and Components Agency (DECA)000N/A[3]Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)21 Civilian076United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO)3001,436National Army Museum400550National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN)100339Royal Air Force Museum (RAF Museum)200429Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO)0000The Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA)0000Total18334050,038[4] [1] All figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000, therefore the total may not be equal to the sum of rounded values.[2] Including Directorate of Defence Communications, Defence Business Services, Ministry of Defence Police, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, and Defence Equipment and Support.[3] DECA was formed on 1 April 2015 as a Trading Agency following the Sale of the Defence Support Group therefore separate communications outturn for FY2014-15 is not available.[4] This figure includes £30million for Armed Forces advertising and marketing - the vast majority of which is advertising and marketing in direct support of Armed Forces recruitment campaigns. It also includes £12million for staff costs.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether fact sheets have been prepared providing (a) supporting detail and (b) timetables for implementation of the proposals set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: The Ministry of Defence has produced a series of fact sheets offering additional detail on the impact of the Strategic Defence and Security Review on Defence policy, plans, capabilities and organisation. They will be made available on the gov.uk website.

Warships: Shipbuilding

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2015 to Question 19431, when in 2016 he expects the national shipbuilding strategy to be published.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 confirmed that the National Shipbuilding Strategy would be published in 2016. The final date for publication has not yet been determined.

Navy: US Coast Guard

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many US Coast Guards are currently serving in the Royal Navy in a permanent position.

Penny Mordaunt: There are currently 14 US Coast Guards serving in the Royal Navy, with a further five undergoing training. An additional two US Coast Guards are providing the personnel management support for these individuals.

Army: Officers

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who each  (a) Colonel of the Regiment and (b) Colonel-in-Chief is in the armed forces.

Mark Lancaster: Lists of Colonels in Chief and Regimental Colonels are shown in the attached table. Where an individual’s rank is below that of one star and their name is not already available in the public domain it cannot be released and I am withholding the information under the data protection act.



20838 - List of Col in Chief and Regimental Col
(Word Document, 50.21 KB)

Syria: Military Intervention

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) total cost and (b) cost per sortie mission flown has been of UK military action in Syria since 2 December 2015.

Penny Mordaunt: It is not possible to separate out the costs of UK military action in Syria from that of wider Counter-Daesh operations due to the inter-related nature of the UK's military activity. However, information on the net additional costs of Counter-Daesh operations during the financial year 2015-16 will be published in the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts, with £75 million approved by Parliament at Main Estimates in July 2015 to meet the initial net additional costs of such operations in 2015-16. We will update this estimate in our 2015-16 Supplementary Estimates which Her Majesty's Treasury plan to lay before the House in February.

Department for Work and Pensions

Disability Living Allowance: Personal Independence Payment

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of personal independence payment special rules claimants received disability living allowance from 1 April 2013 to 31 October 2015.

Justin Tomlinson: The number of Disability Living Allowance claimants who were reassessed for Personal Independence Payment under the special rules for people who are terminally ill between April 2013 and October 2015 are published and can be found athttps://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore is available here: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Floods: Insurance

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make and publish an assessment of the availability of flood insurance for small businesses in areas of high flood risk.

Rory Stewart: We have recently published a report that considers the availability of flood insurance for small businesses in areas of high flood risk. The report is available at:http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&ProjectID=19227&FromSearch=Y&Status=3&Publisher=1&SearchText=FD2688&SortString=ProjectCode&SortOrder=Asc&Paging=10#Description

Forests

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to collect data on the loss of ancient woodland to development.

Rory Stewart: This Government recognises the importance of England’s trees, woods and forests. Our ancient woodlands are especially valuable to us. Indeed they reflect our heritage and identity, as well as providing a unique and rich habitat for our wildlife.That is why Natural England is working with partners to update and improve the Ancient Woodland Inventory. The planning system records the loss of ancient woodland where development proposals require an Environmental Statement and these losses are then a matter of public record.Given this, we have no plans to collect data from Local Authorities on the loss of ancient woodland to development.

Animal Welfare: Trapping

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2015 to Questions 18146, 18163 and 18178, when she plans to announce the options being considered to improve the humaneness of snaring.

Rory Stewart: Ministers are still considering options and will make an announcement in due course.

National Wildlife Crime Unit

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 19 November 2015 to Question 16305 and 26 November 2015 to Question 18647, if her Department will provide a date by which a decision will be made on funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit beyond March 2016.

Rory Stewart: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bristol East, Kerry McCarthy, on 7 December 2015, PQ18534.

Home Office

Weapons: Smuggling

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many weapons have been seized at the UK border by (a) type of weapon and (b) port of entry in each year since 2010.

James Brokenshire: The tables attached show the number of weapons seized by Border Force at the UK border by type, from 2010/11 up to the end of November 2015. These tables do not include firearms as they are treated as a separate category for statistical purposes.In relation to the port of entry, Border Force does not release port specific figures due to security issues .



PQ 19946 - Table
(Word Document, 17.54 KB)

National Cyber Crime Unit and Regional Organised Crime Units: Staff

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff have been employed in (a) the National Crime Agency's National Cyber Crime Unit and (b) each of the nine Regional Organised Crime Units for each year from 2010 to date.

Mr John Hayes: Holding answer received on 05 January 2016



Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs) provide capability to investigate serious and organised crime across police force boundaries, including but not limited to, cyber crime. At the end of September 2015, there were 1,626 full-time equivalent staff employed by forces in the nine Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs), excluding London.These figures have only been centrally collected by the police, and shared with the Home Office, since the beginning of this financial year. Details on the number of staff employed in individual ROCUs are operationally sensitive and have therefore not been provided. The most recent figures for the number of National Crime Agency (NCA) officers employed in the National Cyber Crime Unit will be available in the National Crime Agency's Remuneration Review Body evidence to be published on the NCA's website shortly.

Asylum: Sudan

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's fact sheet on the Syrian Resettlement Programme, what the evidential basis is for the Statement that Sudan is primarily a country of transit; what assessment her Department has made of the latest immigration statistics show that, in the year ending September 2015, Sudan was the country from which the second largest number of asylum applications originated; and if she will work more closely with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on this policy area.

James Brokenshire: The fact sheet on resettlement referred to has been superseded. It is the Government’s current view that Sudan is both a country of transit and a source of refugees, as evidenced by the number of registered refugees in UNHCRcamps in Sudan and the number of Sudanese asylum seekers in the UK in the year ending September 2015 (2,842). The Home Office is working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on tackling migration flows from and through a number of regions and countries, including Sudan.

Asylum: Wigan

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many properties have been bought by Serco for the purpose of housing asylum seekers in each parliamentary constituency in the Wigan local authority area; and how many asylum seekers have been housed in each such constituency.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 05 January 2016



Serco have bought no properties in Wigan as fulfilment of their contractual obligations with regard to accommodation demand is met entirely through the private rented sector.The Home Office publishes quarterly data on the number of asylum seekers in Section 95 dispersal accommodation, by local authority. As part of the regional dispersal policy established in 2000, the advisory cluster limits set by the Home Office of 1 asylum seeker for every 200 of the settled population, apply to local authority area only. Data regarding the precise locations of asylum applicants cannot be provided at ward or constituency level as to do so would incur disproportionate costs and be precluded by the provisions of the Data Protection Act, given that individuals could reasonably be identified by such data.In Q3 2015 there were 664 in dispersed accommodation in Wigan (Asylum Vol 4. Table 16q).https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2015/asylum

Police: Finance

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review the funding received by police forces operating in areas where crime levels are rising.

Mike Penning: Police reform is working and crime is falling. According to the independent Crime Survey for England and Wales, crime has fallen by more than a quarter since 2010. This is the lowest level since the survey began in 1981.The Government has protected overall police spending in real terms over the Spending Review period, when precept is taken into account. This is an increase of up to £900 million in cash terms by 2019/20. Funding allocations for individual police force areas were published in the Provisional Police Grant Report on 17 December.

Containers: Security

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Government's policy is on monitoring the contents of (a) imported and (b) exported containers for security purposes; and what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on such monitoring.

Mr John Hayes: Version 2 06/01/16 It is a long standing convention of successive governments not to comment on matters relating to national security.The Home Secretary regularly meets with the Secretary of State for Transport as part of the process of policy development and delivery, but it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of discussions concerning the development of national security policy.

Human Trafficking

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations of her Department's Review of the National Referral Mechanism for victims of human trafficking, published in November 2014; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley: Ensuring that the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is identifying and supporting potential victims of modern slavery continues to be a top priority. The Government is running pilots in the West Yorkshire police force area and the South West region to test the recommendations made in the NRM review. These pilots are due to conclude in summer 2016, after which the Government will reflect on lessons learned and announce next steps.

HM Treasury

EU Budget

Emma Reynolds: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the amount of direct private sector receipts from the EU was in 2014; and what the expected amount of direct private sector receipts from the EU is for 2015.

Mr David Gauke: Neither the EU Commission nor HM Treasury publish a definitive figure for UK private sector receipts in isolation from total UK receipts. Private sector receipts may, however, be estimated by subtracting the OBR’s estimates for receipts to the UK public sector from total UK receipts published by the EU Commission. For all years up to 2013, this estimate has been detailed in the Technical Annex of HM Treasury’s European Finances White Paper, as shown in the table below. The below figure for 2014 can be estimated using the same methodology as in the White Paper.The OBR do not publish a forecast of private sector receipts. As the EU Commission have not yet published total UK receipts for 2015, we are unable to provide an expected figure for private sector receipts in 2015. £bnReceiptsPublic sector receiptsPrivate sector receipts20135.364.001.3620125.624.171.4520115.704.131.5720105.784.771.02The figure for total receipts is taken from Page 16, Table 3B of HM Treasury’s European Union Finances 2015, accessible at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/483344/EU_finances_2015_final_web_09122015.pdf. The original data is from the European Commission’s Financial Report 2014 (available at this link: http://ec.europa.eu/budget/financialreport/2014/foreword/index_en.html), expressed in euros, and has been converted to sterling using the annual average exchange rate for that year.The figure for public sector receipts is taken from Page 14, Table 3A of HM Treasury’s European Union Finances 2015, accessible at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/483344/EU_finances_2015_final_web_09122015.pdf.

Office for Tax Simplification: Directors

Richard Burgon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what remuneration is provider to the Chair of the Office for Tax Simplification.

Richard Burgon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on whether the appointment of the chair of the Office of Tax Simplification should be subject to a pre-appointment hearing by the Treasury Select Committee.

Mr David Gauke: Angela Knight has been appointed as Chair of the Office of Tax Simplification, and will be paid £400 a day, in line with other public appointments.In 2011, the Treasury Select Committee held a post-appointment hearing for the Chair and Tax Director of the Office of Tax Simplification, and has done so for appointments to other bodies. Angela Knight is appearing before the committee, in her role as the new Chair, on 12 January.

Rupert Murdoch

Helen Goodman: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish minutes of his meetings with Rupert Murdoch in June and September 2015.

Harriett Baldwin: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-giftsand-overseas-travel

Treasury: Corporate Hospitality

Helen Goodman: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish minutes or a statement of the topics of discussion at the dinner attended by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury hosted by Tolley in May 2015.

Mr David Gauke: I attended the dinner in May 2015 in a personal capacity.

Energy

Helen Goodman: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish minutes of the meeting of the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury with Oil and Gas UK, BP, Schlumberger UK, Northern Europe AMEC Foster Wheeler, EnQUEST, Global Energy, Nexen Petroleum, ConocoPhillips, Talisman Sinopec, Shell Centrica Energy, Chrysaor, OMV UK Limited, RGU Oil & Gas Institute, STUC, KCA Duetag, UK Onshore Oil & Gas, Apache North Sea Ltd, Aquaterra Energy Limited, Wood Group PSN, Statoil Production (UK) Limited, ExxonMobil, Total E&P UK, Chevron Upstream Europe, Maersk Oil UK, GE Oil & Gas and Expro Group to discuss energy and climate change in June 2015.

Damian Hinds: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-giftsand-overseas-travel

Ben Goldsmith

Andy Slaughter: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he has (a) had a meeting or (b) had a telephone conversation with Ben Goldsmith in his Ministerial capacity since 1 October 2015; and what was discussed on each such occasion.

Harriett Baldwin: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-giftsand-overseas-travel

Individual Savings Accounts

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people invested the maximum ISA amount in the financial year ending 31 March 2015.

Harriett Baldwin: The latest figures are published by HM Revenue and Customs and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/number-of-individuals-subscribing-to-an-individual-savings-account-isa-by-income

Revenue and Customs: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what account his Department plans to take of the need to ensure religious balance when decisions are reached regarding potential forthcoming closures and staff redundancies in HM Revenue and Customs' offices in Northern Ireland.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs has considered high level people and equality impacts, alongside its key location principles, as part of the decision-making process in determining the location of its future regional centres. The potential impacts on protected characteristic groups, as required by the Northern Ireland Equality legislation, have been incorporated in this approach and will continue to be considered throughout implementation.

Fuels: Tax Evasion

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Northern Ireland were (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for their part in offences connected with fuel laundering between 1 January and 30 June 2015.

Damian Hinds: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is not a prosecuting authority. Where cases do proceed to the criminal courts in Northern Ireland the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPSNI) carries out the prosecution.HMRC’s records do not differentiate between the forms of fuel fraud it investigates and so they cannot identify arrests and convictions solely for fuel laundering. In the period between 1 January and 30 June 2015, there were 4 successful prosecutions and convictions relating to oils fraud.HMRC fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. The UK has recently introduced, jointly with the Republic of Ireland, an improved new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it much harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit.

Energy: Tax Allowances

Kevin Brennan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make business expenditure on resource and energy efficiency measures tax deductible.

Damian Hinds: The government already provides support for businesses who want to invest to become more energy efficient. The annual investment allowance (AIA) lets businesses deduct up to a total of £200,000 of their investment in plant and machinery from annual profits before tax.In addition, enhanced capital allowances (ECAs) let businesses that invest in certain energy-saving equipment write off the total cost of the equipment against their taxable profit as a 100% first-year capital allowance.A review into the business energy efficiency tax landscape concluded in November. The government is considering all responses submitted to this consultation and is likely to publish its formal response at Budget 2016.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Green Climate Fund

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate she has made of the total UK financial commitment to the Green Climate Fund until 2030.

Andrea Leadsom: To date, over $10.2 billion has been pledged to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) from 38 developed and developing countries. The funds are used to help developing countries to deal with the impact of climate change, and it is strongly in our national economic interest to contribute to it. As part of this initial resource mobilisation period, the UK has committed £720 million to the GCF. We will consider further UK contributions to the GCF in subsequent resource mobilisation periods.

Energy: Costs

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate her Department has made of the whole system costs of different energy technologies; and when that information will be published.

Andrea Leadsom: Quantifying the whole system impacts of electricity technologies is a complex exercise which requires sophisticated electricity system modelling. In order to build on previous internal analysis quantifying system costs for some electricity technologies, DECC has commissioned a project titled: Whole System Impacts of Electricity Generation Technologies.This project will improve DECC’s internal electricity system modelling capability to better capture the costs and benefits of all generation technologies on the whole electricity system. It will also allow a better representation of the dynamics behind these costs and benefits, in particular how they vary over time and with the background electricity mix.This project is currently ongoing and given the complex modelling involved, it requires a rigorous quality assurance process to ensure the analysis is robust. We are aiming to complete the project in the first half of 2016, and will publish the results as soon as possible.

Energy: Costs

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department is taking to take account of the whole system costs of different energy technologies when formulating future government policy on delivering renewable support at least cost to consumers.

Andrea Leadsom: DECC recognises the importance of considering the whole system impacts (both costs and benefits) of different electricity technologies when formulating future government policy, since it is a crucial element in delivering secure, clean and affordable energy to consumers.In order to continue to improve its evidence base in this area and inform future policy developments, DECC has commissioned a project on the Whole System Impacts of Electricity Generation Technologies on the electricity system. This project will improve DECC’s understanding of what these system costs are (for example the impact of electricity technologies on wider system balancing actions and networks requirements), as well as improve DECC’s modelling capability to quantify these system costs and their dynamics.Once this project is completed, DECC will be able to better quantify these system costs to inform policy decisions. Any future policy development, such as future renewable support, will be informed by the improved evidence base developed through this project.

Carbon Emissions

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of whether the policies outlined in her speech at the Institution of Civil Engineers on 18 November 2015 will ensure the UK meets the fourth Carbon Budget.

Andrea Leadsom: My Rt. hon Friend,the Secretary of State announced in November, this Government is committed to taking pragmatic action to meet the fourth carbon budget whilst ensuring that energy is secure and bills remain low. Measures announced in her speech - including the intention to replace unabated coal with new gas, nuclear and renewables; increased competition; concerted action on heat; and support for innovation – are all in line with this commitment.Our new emissions reduction plan will be published towards the end of 2016 and will set out our proposals in full.

Energy: Policy

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether an impact assessment has been carried out by her Department on the policies outlined in her speech at the Institution of Civil Engineers on 18 November 2015.

Andrea Leadsom: The speech contained a number of policy proposals which are at different stages of implementation. Some measures which are close to delivery have already had assessments published, such as the changes to the Renewables Obligation and Feed-in Tariff to ensure bill payers get value for money. Where appropriate impact assessments for other proposals, such as the consultation to close unabated coal-fired power stations, will be published in due course.

Nuclear Reactors

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to support the development of additional new nuclear reactors.

Andrea Leadsom: New nuclear power offers low carbon, affordable, and reliable energy to keep the lights on – which is our top priority.I can tell my Honourable Friend that the Department is focussed both on engaging with the 6 individual new nuclear proposals from developers, and also supporting the exciting future prospects for small modular reactor technology.

Energy: Conservation

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she has taken to ensure that the National Infrastructure Commission gives priority to energy efficiency programmes in its investment decisions.

Andrea Leadsom: The Commission is already working with the Department on its study called ‘Delivering future-proof energy infrastructure’ and the Government intends to shortly launch a public consultation on how the Commission will work with different departments in the future.The Commission has been set up to look at long term policy and the first energy topics it will consider are interconnectors and storage.

Climate Change

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to increase parliamentary engagement in the implementation of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions.

Amber Rudd: My Rt Hon Friend, the role of Parliamentarians in helping ensure delivery of nationally determined commitments is very important. We will continue to take every opportunity to encourage other countries, including members of their Parliaments, to take action to deliver on their commitments and consider how they might increase ambition further. I recognise the valuable part that my Rt Hon Friend plays as the Chairman of the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE).

Pre-payment: Meters

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions she has had with energy suppliers on the effect of pre-payment meter tariffs on low-income households' energy costs.

Amber Rudd: My Right Hon member, DECC Ministers and officials meet with energy companies on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues.The Government shares the CMA’s concerns that there is a lack of competitive tariffs for pre-payment customers, despite the recent increase in competition from independent suppliers.The Government is committed to ensuring that the market works effectively for all consumers, including through implementing the final recommendations of the CMA following their investigation.In the meantime, we will continue our focus on keeping bills down through promoting competition, making switching quicker and easier and providing direct help to the most vulnerable.

Renewable Energy: Heating

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to ensure that the UK meets its EU renewable heat target for 2020.

Amber Rudd: The UK does not have a specific renewable heat target. However, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which supports homes and businesses in transitioning to renewable heating, is designed to help us to meet our binding domestic and international targets on both carbon emission reduction and renewable energy.The recently agreed RHI budget guarantees funding out to 2020/21, and provides consumers and industry with certainty about the future of the RHI scheme.

Fuel Poverty

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to reduce the level of fuel poverty.

Amber Rudd: A reformed domestic supplier obligation (ECO) from April 2017, which will run for 5 years, will upgrade the energy efficiency of over 200,000 homes per year tackling the root cause of fuel poverty. Our extension of the Warm Home Discount to 2020/21 at current levels of £320m per annum will also help vulnerable households with their energy bills.We intend to focus our efforts through ECO and the Warm Home Discount more effectively on the fuel poor, and will be consulting on our future approach in the spring.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Papers

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to release Cabinet papers for the 1986-1988 period to the National Archives.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a timetable for disclosure of Cabinet papers for the 1986-1988 period.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what communications his Department has had with the National Archives on the release of Cabinet papers for the 1986-1988 period.

Matthew Hancock: Cabinet papers for the period 1986-1989 have already been transferred to the National Archives. Transparency is at the heart of this Government's agenda and we are publishing unprecedented amounts of information.

Sexual Offences: Plymouth

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many sexual assault crimes have been reported in Plymouth in the last three years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Sexual Assault Crimes
(PDF Document, 118.07 KB)

Department of Health

Hepatitis

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding is earmarked to support treatment for hepatitis C in 2016.

Jane Ellison: NHS England is in the process of finalising allocations for its commissioning functions. A budget for hepatitis C will be set as part of the overarching 2016/17 planning process for specialised commissioning. This will be done in line with the national planning guidance and timetable which is due to be announced shortly.

Fibromyalgia: Research

Dr Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve research into the causes of and a cure for fibromyalgia.

George Freeman: The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including fibromyalgia. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.The researcher-led workstream of the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation programme is funded by the Medical Research Council and managed by the NIHR. This programme funds clinical efficacy studies and is currently open to applications, including applications in fibromyalgia. The programme also provides an opportunity to use clinical studies to understand disease or treatment mechanisms.

Mental Health Services: Autism

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps (a) his Department and (b) NHS England is taking to ensure that mental health diagnostic and other services are (i) accessible and (ii) meet the needs of (A) children and (B) adults on the autism spectrum.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that best practice on autism diagnosis and post-diagnostic support is shared between clinical commissioning groups.

Alistair Burt: We know that people with autism can experience common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, as well as other mental illnesses. Over £400 million has been invested in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies to ensure access to talking therapies for those who need them, including those with autism.An additional investment of £1.4 billion has been allocated to children and young people’s mental health services over the course of this Parliament. The Department is working closely with NHS England to invest in clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to deliver Local Transformation Plans, which must address the full spectrum of need including children with autism and learning disabilities. Roll-out of the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programmes by 2018 will extend access to training for staff working with children with autism.With support from the Department, NHS England and the Association of Directors of Social Services will undertake a series of visits to (CCGs) where there is good practice in meeting the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Quality Standard 51 Autism, and to those that do not, with the aim of identifying best practice on diagnosis and support.

Care Homes

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the long-term viability of the care home sector; and if he will reassess the contribution that could be made to that viability of the care practitioner role.

Alistair Burt: Through November’s comprehensive Spending Review, the Government announced that it was giving local authorities access to £3.5 billion of new support for social care by 2019/20.Councils will be able to introduce a new Social Care Precept, allowing them to increase council tax by 2% above the existing threshold. This could raise nearly £2 billion a year for social care by 2019/20.From April 2017, the Spending Review makes available social care funds for local government, rising to £1.5 billion by 2019/20, to be included in the Better Care Fund.Taken together, the new precept and additional Better Care Fund contribution mean local government has access to the funding it needs to increase social care spending in real terms by the end of the Parliament.Under the Care Act (2014), local authorities have legal duties to shape a sustainable and diverse market of care providers capable of delivering a choice of quality services to their local population. These duties apply in respect of all care services, including care home services. The Government published statutory guidance to support local authorities discharge their market shaping duties effectively, which includes guidance around adult social care commissioning.The care practitioner scheme was withdrawn by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, a non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Department of Health was not involved in the assessment of the contribution that the care practitioner role could make to the care home sector.

Hospital Beds

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the longest a patient waited for discharge from hospital after being declared fit to leave was in (a) England and Wales, (b) London and (c) each health trust in London in each year since 2010.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average time was between a patient being declared fit to leave hospital and being discharged in (a) England and Wales, (b) London and (c) each health trust in London in each year since 2010.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients waited four weeks or longer for discharge from hospital after being declared fit to leave in (a) England, (b) London and (c) each health trust in London in each year since 2010.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average time was from a patient being declared fit to leave hospital to their discharge in (a) England, (b) London and (c) each health trust in London in (i) the last calendar month for which figures are available and (ii) that month in each year from 2010 to 2014.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients waited four weeks or longer for discharge from hospital after being declared fit to leave in (a) England and Wales, (b) London and (c) each health trust in London in (i) the last month for which figures are available and (ii) that month in each year from 2010 to 2015.

Alistair Burt: This information is not available in the format requested.Official statistics for NHS trusts in England are published by NHS England on the number of patients delayed on the last Thursday of each month and the total delayed days during the month for all patients delayed throughout the month. The latest publication of this data was for delays occurring in October 2015 and was published on 10 December 2015.It is not possible to calculate a montly average or the longest waits from these data. Health is a devolved matter in Wales.

Pancreatic Cancer: Medical Treatments

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department plans to make a decision on whether to refer for consideration by NICE PRRNT treatment for pancreatic cancers.

George Freeman: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recently consulted stakeholders on the suitability of Lutetium-177 Dotatate - a type of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) - for treating unresectable, somatostatin receptor-positive gastroentero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours without disease progression for referral to its technology appraisal work programme. A decision on its referral to NICE will be taken shortly.